jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第18章

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or　news；　hoping　to　pick　up　some　clue　to　what　the　Security　Council　was　meeting　to　discuss。　There　was　nothing　but　music　on　the　FM　stations；　but　on　AM　he　picked　up　part　of　a　news　broadcast。
　〃Bill；　how　are　the　people　of　New　York　handling　this　latest　blackout？〃
　〃Well；　so　far；　Maria；　we　have　no　reports　of　looting。　As　our　listeners　know　from　past　blackouts；　some　people　take　advantage　of　unfortunate　circumstances　like　these。　We　can　only　hope　that　the　governor…〃
　Nick　went　back　to　twisting　the　dial。
　The　meeting　could　have　something　to　do　with　the　New　York　situation；　but　blackouts　normally　don't　require　a　meeting　of　the　Security　Council。　Now　if　the　blackout　was　caused　by　terrorist　action　you　might　call　such　a　meeting。　But　why　invite　the　science　advisor？　It　couldn't　be　a　nuclear　attack。　Nick　wasn't　on　the　nuclear　response　team。　Besides；　a　nuclear　blast　would　certainly　have　made　the　newscasts　by　now。　Nick　spun　the　dial　looking　for　more　details　and　rested　briefly　on　a　talk　show。
　〃I'm　telling　you；　Gene；　this　is　what　I　saw。　The　road　is　gone；　the　trees　are　gone；　the　old　candle　factory　is　gone；　everything　is　gone。　Gone；　gone；　gone！　Can't　you　hear　what　I'm　telling　you？〃
　〃Ken　。　。　。　Ken；　I　can　hear　fine。　But　do　you　hear　what　you're　saying？　Do　you？　You　want　me　。　。　。　and　my　listeners　。。。　to　believe　that　you　turned　your　back　for　a　second；　just　a　second；　and　when　you　looked　back　everything　was　snowed　in？　Ken；　it　can't　snow　that　fast。〃
　〃I　didn't　say　it　snowed…〃
　〃Ken　。。。　let　me　finish　。　。　。　suddenly；　without　warning；　on　a　sixty…degree　night；　it　snows　thirty　or　forty　feet。　。　。　enough　to　cover　a　factory？　I'm　not　buying　it；　Ken。　Time　to　refill　your　prescription。〃
　〃Well　why　don't　you　e　out　here　and　I'll　take　some　of　that　imaginary　snow　and　shove　it…〃
　Nick　was　sorry　the　line　went　dead。　Ken　was　about　to　tell　the　talk　show　host　something　Nick　had　always　wanted　to　say　to　a　talk　show　host。
　〃Naughty；　naughty；　Ken。　We　must　please　the　FCC　now；　mustn't　we　。。。　you　butthead。　We've　got　Coop　from　Carlton；　Oregon；　on　line　three。　Go　ahead；　Coop；　you're　on　Night　Talk。〃
　〃Gene；　I　got　another　improbable　indecipherable　for　you。　There　was　a　supersonic　percussion　a　couple　of　hours　ago　from　the　direction　of　Portland。　I　just　got　back　from　taking　a　little　reconnaisance　ride。　I　could　only　make　about　ten　clicks。〃
　〃And　what　did　you　see　on　your　reconnoiter？〃
　〃It's　what　I　didn't　see。　Portland。〃
　〃You　didn't　see　Portland？　It's　a　good　thing　you　got　lost；　Coop。　Once　you've　seen　the　big　city　you'd　never　be　happy　on　your　farm　again。〃
　〃I'm　no　agricultural　entrepreneur；　and　I　didn't　get　lost。　Portland　did。　It's　not　there　anymore　and　where　it　used　to　be　there's　a　forest。〃
　〃Coop；　what　do　they　drink　out　there　in　Carlton；　or　should　I　say　how　much？〃
　Nick　could　not　believe　what　he　was　hearing。　Someone　was　on　the　radio　reporting　a　missing　city　and　sounding　serious。　The　idea　of　a　missing　city　was　odd　enough；　but　the　caller　made　it　seem　even　stranger。　It　was　something　in　the　way　he　spoke　about　it。　For　one　thing　the　caller　sounded　excited；　not　depressed；　not　bewildered；　not　even　sad。　Certainly　if　a　city　full　of　people　had　disappeared　it　would　be　a　disorienting　experience。　But　the　caller　sounded　downright　enthused。
　〃I　don't　imbibe　while　on　duty；　Gene；　and　I　consider　myself　on　duty　until　this　emergency　is　over。　I'm　a　reserve　police　officer　and　proud　of　it。〃
　〃I　have　reservations　about　police　officers　too。〃
　'That's　not　all　of　it；　Gene。　When　I　was　looking　through　my　optical　assistance　device　I　spotted　a　dinosaur。〃
　〃A　dinosaur？　You　mean　one　of　those　extinct　creatures　that　hasn't　existed　on　earth　for　a　few　million　years　or　so？〃
　〃What　else　could　it　be？　It　was　either　a　dinosaur　or　the　only　ten…foot　lizard　I've　ever　seen。　I'm　getting　ready　now　to　head　back　and　see　if　I　can　apprehend　the　trespassing　lizard。〃
　〃You　do　that；　Coop；　and　be　sure　to　call　back　and　let　us　know　when　you　catch　it。　Meanwhile　I'll　alert　my　listeners　to　be　on　the　lookout　for　a　missing　city。〃　The　line　was　cut　and　then　Gene　added；　〃Bob；　let's　start　screening　these　calls。　Is　there　a　full　moon　tonight　or　what？〃
　Then　Gene　punched　up　line　one　from　Sioux　City；　Iowa。
　〃Gene；　I　should　of　taken　your　advice。〃　The　caller　had　clearly　been　drinking。
　〃What　advice　was　that；　Sioux　City？〃
　〃You　told　me　to　get　rid　of　my　wife。　We　was　having　trouble　。　。　。　she　was　cheating　on　me。　You　told　me　to　take　her　stuff；　throw　it　out　of　the　house　and　her　with　it。〃
　〃I　remember；　Sioux　City。　So　what　happened？〃
　〃She　took　the　farm。〃
　〃The　farm　equipment？〃
　〃No；　damn　it；　she　took　the　whole…beeeeep…farm。〃
　〃Watch　your　language；　Sioux　City。〃
　〃We　had　a　big　fight　and　I　stomped　out　and　jumped　into　my　pickup　to　go　get　a　beer。　I　got　about　halfway　down　the　driveway　when　I　got　knocked　off　the　road　by　a　humpin'　big　noise。　I　still　can't　hear　so　good。　When　I　looked　back　the　place　was　gone。　I　got　no　house；　no　barn；　no　stock；　no　nothing。　But　I　got　plenty　of　nothing。〃
　〃You　wouldn't　happen　to　have　a　relative　living　in　Oregon　would　you？〃
　〃I　ain't　got　nothing　no　where。〃
　〃Well；　that　brings　us　to　the　news　on　the　hour　。　。　。　thank　God。　I'm　gonna　turn　it　over　to　Jim　Jenkins　with　all　the　latest　on　missing　cities　and　farms；　and　when　I　e　back　let's　talk　about　something　normal　like　flying　saucers；　or　abortion；　but　not　dinosaurs。　I'm　Gene　Diamond　and　you're　listening　to　America's　nighttime　favorite…Night　Talk。〃
　Nick　kept　turning　the　dial；　but　all　the　stations　seemed　to　be　getting　their　news　from　the　same　source　and　reported　only　on　the　New　York　blackout。
　The　security　at　the　White　House　told　Nick　how　serious　the　situation　was。　The　guard　at　the　gate　had　been　replaced　by　marines　in　uniform　with　secret　service　agents　mixed　in；　and　Nick　was　going　through　his　third　ID　check　when　Elizabeth　Hawthorne　took　his　arm　and　expedited　the　process。　Nick　couldn't　help　but　notice　that　no　one　asked　for　Elizabeth's　ID。
　〃The　reports　are　on　my　desk。　You　can　use　my　office。〃
　〃Nice　to　see　you　too。　What　is　going　on？〃
　〃Read　the　reports。　I'm　going　to　stay　here　and　help　the　others　through　security。　Nick；　I　think　you　should　know　that　Dr。　Gogh　will　be　at　the　meeting。〃
　Nick　wasn't　sure　how　to　take　that　news。　Arnold　Gogh　was　the　President's　first　choice　for　Nick's　job。　In　fact　he　held　the　post　for　two　years。　The　President　had　been　friends　with　Gogh　when　they　were　both　faculty　at　the　University　of　Michigan。　It　was　a　strange　friendship…Gogh　the　physicist　and　McIntyre　the　political　scientist…a　rapport　based　on　patible　political　beliefs。　When　McIntyre　left　academia　for　the　state　legislature　Gogh　stayed　with　the　university；　but　he　was　never　really　out　of　touch　or　influence。
　When　the　Democrats　had　splintered；　McIntyre　had　coined　the　name　Neodemocrat　for　the　new　party。　When　he　ran　for　the　Senate；　Gogh　took　a　leave　of　absence　and　managed　his　campaign。　When　McIntyre　ran　for　the　presidency　as　the　Neodemocratic　nominee；　Gogh　was　an　integral　part　of　the　successful　campaign。　To　everyone's　surprise　he　turned　down　chief　of　staff；　that　position　went　to　Elizabeth　Hawthorne。　Instead；　Gogh　sought　the　position　of　science　advisor　and　then　reshaped　it　in　his　own　image。
　He　would　still　be　science　advisor　if　it　hadn't　been　for　Gogh's　penchant　for　young　girls；　recorded　on　video。　Gogh　had　to　plea…bargain　himself　out　of　jail；　and　the　position　of　science　advisor　fell　to　Nick。
　Nick　had　a　reputation　as　a　popularizer　of　science。　His　award…winning　public　television　productions　brought　the　mysteries　of　the　galaxy；　the　seas；　and　the　animal　world　to　everyday　people　in　a　way　they　could　understand。　Nick's　success　made　him　popular　with　the　public；　and　with　politicians；　but　his　reputation　as　a　scientist　had　suffered。　He　was　no　longer　a　purist。　He　no　longer　published　in　obscure　journals　that　even　the　specialists　ignored。　He'd　dropped　out　of　the　great　grant　race。
　But　now　he　could　pursue　his　first　love…all　sciences…and　it　was　a　trade　he　rarely　regretted。　So　he　produced　the　television　specials；　delivered　the　talks；　and　served　as　a　liaison　between　the　President　and　the　sciences。
　Nick　knew　that　Gogh's　presence　did　not　mean　McIntyre's　lack　of　trust　in　Nick。　Gogh　was　part　of　the　President's　emotional　support　network；　and　with　the　first　lady　out　of　town；　Nick　assumed　President　McIntyre　might　be　using　Gogh　as　a　surrogate　partner。　However；　Gogh　would　diminish　Nick's　influence。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　Nick　watched　Elizabeth　walk　back　to　the　door　and　take　up　an　observation　post。　She　was　an　unusual　woman。　Not　that　she　wasn't　a　fine…looking　woman。　Her　hair　was　silky。　Her　skin　was　flawless。　Her　rarely　used　smile　dazzled；　and　her　figure　was　made　for　snuggling　up　to。　But　she　never　posted　signs　that　she　was　willing　or　even　interested。　Elizabeth　was　carbon　monoxide；　odorless　and　colorless。　Nick　had　no　doubt　she　was　just　as　deadly。
　Nick　found　the　files　on　the　desk　just　where　Elizabeth　had　said　they　would　be。　They　were　easy　to　find；　since　the　desk　was　bare　except　for　one　folder。
　The　first　report；　about　the　New　York　situation；　gave　Nick　a　sick　feeling　of　deja　vu。　It　wasn't　a　report　about　a　blackout。　The　report　clearly　stated　that　part　of　New　York　City　had　disappeared。　Nick　had　trouble　reading　because　he　kept　thinking　about　the　talk　show。　Three　of　the　callers　had　said　something　about　things　missing。　Portland；　Oregon；　a　farm　in　Iowa；　and　what　had　that　first　caller　said？　Something　about　a　candle　factory　buried　in　snow？　What　was　going　on？　Nick　flipped　through　the　reports。　None　of　them　mentioned　Portland　or　anything　in　Iowa；　but　there　were　reports　of　blackouts；　landslides；　and　bridge　collapses。　They　were　mostly　from　the　East　Coast　and　Midwest。
　As　he　read　Nick　felt　as　if　he　had　been　jangled　by　an　old…fashioned　phone。　The　pounding　in　his　chest　built　and　his　breathing　quickened。　He　recognized　the　feeling　fight　away　this　time。　It　was　fear　again。
　
　18。　　THE　MEADOW
　
　The　wonders　of　this　age　cannot　pare　to　the　wonders　of　the　age　of　no　time。　In　that　age　we　will　surely　know　from　whence　we　came。
　…Zorastrus；　Prophet　of　Babylon
　
　New　York　City
　POSTQUILT：　SUNDAY；　7：07　A。M。　EST
　
　　It　was　ing　across　the　meadow　slowly；　pausing　frequently　to　get　down　on　all　fours　with　its　head　in　the　grass。　Then　it　stood；　rising　on　its　two　bigger　back　legs　until　it　towered　above　the　meadow；　looking　around　defensively。　It　was　eating　the　grasses　at　a　leisurely　pace；　more　interested　in　food　than　speed。　Mariel　was　both　afraid　and　excited　when　she　realized　it　was　eating　its　way　toward　her　window。　She　watched　the　huge　beast　e　closer；　and　with　each　giant　step；　the　beast　loomed　larger。　First　she　thought　it　was　the　size　of　an　elephant；　but　now　she　could　see　it　was　bigger。　Much　bigger。
　Filled　with　new　excitement；　Mariel　knew　it　was　a　dinosaur。　She　was　excited　and　scared　at　the　same　time。　Her　old　eyes　could　finally　see　it　clearly。　Grass　hung　from　both　sides　of　its　mouth；　and　it　stared　at　Mariel's　building　and　the　other　buildings　bordering　its　meadow。　From　the　curiosity　she　saw　in　those　eyes；　she　knew　this　was　an　intelligent　animal。　You　could　tell　intelligence　by　the　eyes。　In　people；　too。
　Mariel　was　watching　it　stuff　its　mouth　with　grass　again　when　someone　started　pounding　on　the　door。　She　shouted　for　whoever　it　was　to　go　away；　but　the　pounding　only　sounded　louder。
　Luis　was　at　the　door；　and　she　open